Acetylene-gas apparatus.



PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

No'.841,803. A F. M. MOORE.

AGETYLENE GAS APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 19 05.

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No. 841,803. A PATENTED'JAN'. 22, 1907.

R M. MOORE. AGETYLENE GAS APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYl, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRANK'M. MOORE, OF WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ACETYLENE-GAS APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1 907.

Application filed July 1, 1905. Serial No. 26 7.879.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. MOORE, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, re-

siding at WVestfield, in the county of Hampden and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Acetylene- Gas Apparatus,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements. in

acetylene-gas apparatus; and it consists of a I generator of peculiarconstruction provided with what I term a water-feed device orwater-grate and having other features which it is desirable to use.Among the latter may be mentioned the swivel fastening means for thecover, the special plug for the filling-hole, the ash receptacle orcompartment and pan, and means for permitting all waste matter to passby gravity into such compartment or pan. While some of the new featuresmay be omitted from the generator or substitutes possibly employed inplace thereof, the apparatus as a whole and embodying all such featuresis believed to possess whatever advantages may be necessary and to befree from any disadvantages.

The objects of my invention are, first, to

produce a neat, strong, durable, and compact acetylene-gas generatorthat is practically self-regulating or self-governing and will produce asteady, brilliant, and even light under the ordinary conditions incidentto its use on automobiles, for which use this generator is particularlyadapted; second, to produce such a generator which is economical inconstruction and operation; third, to provide an improved waterfeedbeneath the carbid a water-grate controlled by manually-operated meansfrom without and regulated automatically by gas-pressure from within thegenerator; fourth, to render all parts of the apparatus easilyaccessible; fifth, to furnish a vent for the water-reservoir, whichwhile admitting air does not permit the water to escape; siXth, toproduce a generator in which the gas-chamber and its connections arekept cool, and, seventh, to provide means for taking care of the ashesproduced by the decomposition of the carbid and any dirt that may getinto the governor-tube.

Other objects of more or less importance will appear in. the course ofthe following detailed description of my invention.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in

which Figure 1 is a side view of my generator; Fig. 2, a plan view, theash-pan being partially withdrawn; Fig. 3, a vertical section on linesat as looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2 Fig. 4, a verticalsection through the governor and its stand-pipe; Fig. 5, a

plan view of the water-grate, the absorbent material and valve beingomitted; and Fig. 6, a sectional view of the plug for the fillinghole.

Similar 'letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

While the apparatus shown in the drawings embodies my invention in apracticable and eflicient form,-it is to be understood that suchvariations may be made therein as justly fall within the scope of myclaims.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an outer casing, dividedhorizontally by a diaphragm B into a water-reservoir'C above and anash-receptacle D below. A cylindrical generator-casing or gas-chamber Eis located in the center of the reservoir .0 and rises above the same,extending through the top of the casing A. The chamber E opens at thebottom into the ash-receptacle D and is closed at the top by means of acap F. Access is had to the receptacle D through a frame G, let into anopening in the front of the lower part of the casing A. An ash-pan H isadapted to be received into the recepta cle D, and this pan has asubstantial front H, which is in reality a door arranged to close theopening in the frame G. The ashpan is not shown in Fig. 3.

I is the water-feed device or water-grate, which is located in thebottom of the generator or gas-chamber E. A stand-pipe J for thegovernor is placed vertically in the reser voir C and rises above thetop of the casing A, like the gas-chamber. The base of the governorstand-pipe J penetrates the diaphragm .B. An inclined tube a connectsthe gas-chamber E with the stand-pipe J.

K is a cap or plug for the fillinghole b, Fig. 2, in the top of thecasing A, through which hole water ispoured into the reservoir C. Abasket or carbid-holder L rests upon the water-grate I in thegas-chamber.

In order to render air-tight the joint be- F and that between the frameG and the and opening at its inner end front or door H heads 0 and c, of"live rubber or other suitable material, are employed, the head 0 beingin said cap and the head 0 in said frame.

As a convenient and ready means for unfastening and removing the cap Ffrom the chamber E and replacing and refastening it thereon I provide aswivel d, mounted on a stud d, rising from the center of said cap, saidswivel having downwardly-extending arms with inwardly-extending lugsadapted to enter cam-grooves d in the sides of said chamber. Eachcam-groove d has astraight vertical part d, which permits the corresponding swivel-lug to enter or leave such groove. One of theswivel-lugs appears at d in Fig. 3. A screw 6 passes through one side ofthe hub of the swivel d to enter with its inner end an annular groove 6in the stud (1, thus preventing the swivel from coming off of the cap F,but permitting the former to rotate freely upon the latter.

When the lugs on the swivel d are in the cam-grooves d and the swivel isturned to the left, the cap F is crowded down hard onto the chamber Eand securely closes the same at the top. Further explanation of theoperation of the swivel is believed to be unnecessary.

The ash-pan H may slide freely in and out of the ash-receptacle D exceptwhen the door H, to which such pan may be said to be at tached, isfastened to the frame G. This fastening is effected through the mediumof boltsff, pivoted atff to earpieces f on the ends of the frame G, andthumb-nuts ff on said bolts, bifurcated lugsff on the lateral edges ofthe door H receiving such bolts and affording abutments for saidthumb-nuts. When the door is thus fastened in place, no air can enterthrough the base of the casing A. In order to unfasten the door, so asto be able to remove the ashpan and dump the contents thereof, it issimply necessary to loosen the thumb-nuts f and swing the bolts f awayfrom the lugsft.

4 Passing now to the consideration of the water-feed device orwater-grate I in detail, it will be observed that the same comprises inpart a central inverted cup 9, closed at the bottom with a screw-cap hand having a valve seat g in the top for a valve i. Arms g radiatelaterally from the upper part of the cup 9 and support an inner annularflan ed seat and an outer concentric trough j, the outer ends of sucharms beyond said ring being fastened to the base of the chamber E on theinside. A shallow annular channel j is formed in the cup 9 within theseat 7', or between such seat and the part j which surrounds the top ofthe valve 71. Passages 7c are formed in the arms 9, each of suchpassages extending beneath the seat 3' through the bottom of thechannel 1. The outer end of each passage 7c opens through the floor ofthe trough y" at k.

A pipe Z opens at one end into the cup 9 and at the other end into thereservoir C, the end which opens into said reservoir being provided witha valve-seat Z. A valve rod or gate m is adapted to open and close theentrance to the pipe Z and is operated by means of a head m on the upperand outer terminal of said gate above the top of the easing A. The gatem below the head m is screw-threaded to engage the screw-threaded sidesof an opening in the top of the casing. The tapered lower terminal ofthe gate m is removed from the valve-seat Z and seatedthereon byscrewing said gate up and down.

A ring n, of cork or other suitable material, is placed on the seatwithin its flange, and this ring has a disk n, of felt or other suitableabsorbent material, attached thereto, which rests upon and preferablyoverhangs said flange. The hole in the ring it is somewhat larger thanthe top of thevalve i. Within the trough j and projecting slightly abovethe same is a ring 0, of felt or other suitable absorbent material.bid-holder L rests solely upon the ring 0, there being no center to suchbottom to rest upon the disk 17/; but the carbid in such holder comes incontact with both the bibulous membersthat is, the aforesaid disk andring.

The stand-pipe J has a tapered mouth 19 at the base, which opens belowthe diaphragm B and is provided at the upper terminal with a two-waygas-outlet q. Connections may be made between the two outlet-nipples andthe same number of burners or between only one nipple and a singleburner, the other nip ple then being closed with a screw q or otherwise.Between the inner ends of the tube a and outlet g in the stand-pipe J isa governor consisting of two perforated diaphragmsrr, with a filling r,of asbestos or other suitable material, between. One (or both) of thediaphragms r is adjustable, so that the mass of filling material may becompressed more or less, as required, to properly strain the gas as itpasses through the same and regulate the flow thereof. By preferenceprovision is made for screwing the diaphragms 1" into place, and thisallows me to secure whatever adjustment of the same may be needed. Access to the stand-pipe J and the governor therein is had upon removing ascrew-cap p at the top. Any dirt or water which may chance to get intothe stand-pipe drops through the opening p into the pan H below.

The plug K, which is arranged to screw into the filling-hole b, isprovided with a hollow base or chamber 8, having a vent-hole s in thebottom thereof, and with a vent-tube s, passingdownward from the top ofsaid plug and being bent to one side within such chamber, so that itslower end is out of line with The bottom of the car-' ICC) cause anoutrush of air has occurred, and then through the water-grate into theash-pan.

said vent-hole. This device when screwed into place after the reservoirhas been filled permits air to enter the latter through the pipe 8 andhole 8, but prevents water from slopping out of the same, owing to thepresence of the chamber 8 and to the bend in said ipe. IVater may enterthe chamber 3 through the hole 8 in small quantities, but immediatelyruns back into the reservoir, the bent tube 8 permitting none of thewater to escape through the top of the plug.

Assuming that the carbid-holder has been filled and is in place and thatall parts of the generator are tight and valves closed, including thevalve or valves at the burner or burners, (not shown,) the conditionsinside of the generator are as follows: The generator or gas-chamber E,ash-receptacle D, stand-pipe J and connections are securely sealed, andthe air therein is under some compression, brought about by the sealingoperationthat is, by the seating of the cap F, which should occur afterthe door H has been screwed up; but of course the water-reservoir O isopen at the vent in the plug K. Now when the gate m is opened there isnot enough water-pressure to affect the valve 71, owing to the pressureof air above said valve; but as soon as at least one of theburner-valves is opened said valve i is lifted from its seat, be-

commences the conversion of the carbid into gas. The operation from thistime on is explained below.

Water flows from the tank O through the pipe Z into the cup g, lifts thevalve "L from its seat into the ring a, overflows the part 1'', oozingbeneath said ring into the channel 1, passes through the passages 1c tothe trough j, and is taken up by both the bibulous disk n and ring 0,the ring a becoming saturated meanwhile. The carbid in the holder L receives moisture at the bottom and begins to decompose and generate gas.The gas, following the outgoing air, passes out of the chamber E byway'of the tube a into the stand-pipe J, forces its way through thegovernor in said stand-pipe, and finally escapes at the outlet q to theburner connections, be ing consumed by the flame or flames at the burneror burners. The residue from the decomposing carbid falls in the form ofashes The generation of gas may continue as long as there is any carbidleft in the holder. To stop generation, simply close the gate m, thuscutting off the water-supply to the carbid. Very little more gas willnow be made, since the carbid is never wet only moistened as itabstracts or takes up the vapor given off from the bibulous materialbelow. This last feature is important, because overgeneration isentirely avoided thereby, overgeneration being a danger ever presentwhen water is brought freely and directly into contact with the caribid. It may be mentioned here, furthermore, that the water in thereservoir C serves to lower the temperature in the chamber E and keep itdown, the mass of carbid decreasing as fast or faster than the column ofwater, so that the latter always surrounds the former, although in aseparate compartment. The value of this feature will also beappreciated.

Ordinarily the water and gas pressures during generation are so wellregulated in this construction that the flow of water is quite constant;but in the event of a sudden jar or because of some other reason morecarbid than usual becomes molstened and the gas-pressure consequentlyincreased.

The result is that such pressure being above the valve t overcomes thewater-pressure and closes said valve, so that no more water can escapefrom the cup g. The shutting off of the water in this manner results inan almost instant lessening of the gas-pressure, which continues todecrease until the valve 'i can again be forced open by the water, andsoon what may be termed the equilibrium of pressures is once moreestablished.

It is a peculiarity of the water-grate that the valve i when lifted fromits seat by the water is suspended, as it were, in the center of thestream forced upward from the cup 9 and has a constant rotary motion,sometimes in one direction and sometimes in the other. The rotation ofthe valve i prevents any unevenness in the wear of the seat 9.Conseuently perfect operation of said valve is insured and the life ofthe parts materially prolonged.

Occasion is here taken to call attention to the fact that it has beenfound not only expedient, but most practicable, to provide anenlargement, such as the, cup 9, at the inner end of the pipe Z.Otherwise the valve 4'. could be seated in an upturned end of said pipelike that in which the valve-seat Z is located. In the absence of suchan enlarge ment the valve i will not yield to the water pressure undersome conditions when it should yield in order that the apparatus operatesuccessfully or at all.

In a small generator the trough j and bibulous ring 0 may be omitted,the passages the channel j then not being required. In such a case thecarbid-holder might either be supported by the arms g or upon thebibulous disk n, or by and upon both. In the absence of theabove-mentioned parts the same results are obtained as before, only in aless degree, since not so much carbid can be moistened, and theoperation is practically the same-is the same, in fact, so far as theremaining parts are concerned.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, of a casing, apartition B arranged ICO therein dividing the interior into awater-reservoir and an ash-receptacle, a gas-chamber in said reservoir,such chamber opening above said casing, a cap E to close said chamher atthe top, a stand-pipe in the reservoir, such stand-pipe having agas-outlet, and a tube connecting said stand-pipe with the gaschamber.

2. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, with a casing dividedby a dia phragm into a water-reservoir and an ash receptacle, of agas-chamber and a standpipe in said reservoir, said chamber and saidstand-pipe opening into said receptacle, the standpipe having agas-outlet, a connection between said chamber and said stand-pipe, and aremovable ash-pan in said receptacle.

3. A water-feed device, for an acetylenegas apparatus, comprising a pipeconstructed to be connected with a water-supply and provided with anenlargement at its delivery end, such enlargement opening at the top andhaving a valve-seat, a Valve on said seat, and a flanged seatsurrounding the valveseat, a channel being formed around the top of thevalveseat and between it and said flanged seat.

4. A water-feed device, for an acetylenegas apparatus, comprising a pipeconstructed to be connected with a watersupply and. provided with anenlargement at its delivery end, such enlargement opening at the top andhaving a valve-seat, a valve on said seat, a flanged seat surroundingthe valve-seat, a channel being formed around the top of the valve-seatand between it and said flanged seat, a trough outside of the flangedseat, and means of support for such trough, passages being formed insuch means of support between said channel and said trough.

5. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, with a casing dividedby a horizontal diaphragm into a water-reservoir above and anash-receptacle below, such diaphragm having an opening therein, and agas generating chamber in said water-reservoir over such opening, of awatenfeed device comprising a pipe entirely within said casing undersaid diaphragm provided with an enlargement at its delivery end, saidpipe opening at its inlet-end above the diaphragm into the waterreservoir and said enlargement opening into said gas-generating chamberabove, and a valve for said. inlet end of the pipe having a stemextending through to the outside of the casing.

6. A water-feed device, for an acetylenegas apparatus, comprising a pipeconstructed to be connected with a water-supply and provided with anenlargement at one end, such enlargement having a valve-seat, a valvefor said seat, a bibulous ring mounted on said enlargement, and abibulous disk on such ring,

communication with the water-supply pipe.

the latter being in enlarged end of the 7. A water-feed device, for anacetylenegas apparatus, comprising a pipe constructed to be connectedwith a water-supply and provided with an enlargement at one end, suchenlargement having a valve-seat, a valve for said seat, a flanged seatoutside of the valveseat, a ring of absorbent material on said flangedseat, and a bibulous disk on said ring, the latter being incommunication with the enlarged end of the water-supply pipe.

8. A water-feed device, for an acetylenegas apparatus, comprising a pipeconstructed to be connected with a water-supply and provided with anenlargement at one end, such enlargement having. a valve-seat, a valvefor said seat, a flanged seat outside of the valveseat, for absorbentmaterial, a trough outside of said flanged seat, also for absorbent material, and suitable supporting means for the flanged seat and trough,passages being formed in such supporting means to convey water from thevalve-seat opening to said trough.

9. A water-feed device or water-grate, for an acetylene-gas apparatus,comprising a cup having a valve-seat in the top, a valve for said seat,a flanged seat surrounding the valve-seat, for absorbent material, armsextending laterally from said cup, a trough supported'by said arms, alsofor absorbentmaterial, passages being formed in the latter to conveywater from the valve-seat opening to said trough, and a pipe adapted tobe connected with a water-supply and opening into the cup.

10. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, with agas-generating chamber opening at the bottom, of a water-feed device, atthe base of said chamber, comprising a chambered member 9 provided witha valve-seat and valve and with a support for absorbent material, aclean-out plug 72 for such member, and a pipe opening into said memberand constructed to be connected with a water-supply.

11. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, with agas-generating chamber open at the bottom, of a water-feed opengratedevice, at the base of said chamber partially closing the opening,comprising a cup provided with a valve-seat and valve and armsprojecting therefrom to support absorbent material, and awater-conduitarranged substantially parallel with the base of said cupopening into said cup and constructed to be connected with awater-supply.

12. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, with awater-reservoir, and a gas chamber therein opening through the bottomthereof, of a water-feed device, at the base of said chamber, comprisinga cup provided with a valve-seat and valve and arms projectingtherefrom, with openings therebetween to permit theresiduum to fall tothe ash-receptacle, constructed to support absorbent material, a pipecommunicating with both the cup and reservoir, and means for admittingwater from said reservoir into said plpe.

13. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, of awater-reservoir, a gas-chamber therein opening through the bottomthereof, an ash-receptacle below the gas chamber, a water-feed device,at the base of said chamber but not completely closing or filling theopening, comprising a cup provided with a valve-seat and valve andhaving projecting -members constructed to support absorbent material, apipe oommunicating with both the cup and reservoir, and means foradmitting water from said reservoir into said pipe.

14. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, of awater-reservoir, a gas-chamber therein opening through the bottomthereof, a water-feed device, at the base of said chamber, comprisin acup provided with a valve-seat and a va ve, constructed to supportabsorbent material, and having arms extending therefrom to be fastenedto the sides or edges of the bottom opening of the gas-chamber, achambered member be low the valve-opening, a clean-out plug in the lowerface of said member, a conduit connected at one end with the wall of thechambered member and at the other with the reservoir, and means foradmitting water from said reservoir into said conduit.

15. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, of awater-reservoir; a gas-chamber in said reservoir, opening'through thebottom thereof; an ash-chamber below the gas-chamber; a water-feeddevice, at the base of said gas-chamber, comprising a grid having a cupand arms projecting therefrom, the cup provided with a valve-seat andvalve, all constructed to support absorbent material, and a pipeconnected at one terminal with said cup and at the other terminal withthe reservoir and located in the upper portion of the ash-chamber, avalve-seat being provided minal; and a valve or gate adapted to open andclose said opening. I

16. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, of awater-reservoir; a gas-chamber therein opening through the bottomthereof; a water-feed device or water-grate,

at the base of said chamber, comprising a cup in said pipe at thereservoir-ter- 1 having a valve-seat in the top, a valve for said seat,a flanged seat surrounding the valve-seat, absorbent material on saidflanged seat, arms extending laterally from said cup, a trough supportedby said arms, absorbent material in said trough, passages being formedin the arms to convey water from the valve-seat opening to the trough,and a pipe communicating with both the cup andreservoir; and acarbid-holder supported by the trough.

17. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, of a waterreservoir,a gas-chamber and a stand-pipe in said reservoir, said stand-pipeopening at the base through the bottom of the reservoir and having agas-outlet above, and a tube connecting said chamber with thestand-pipe.

18. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, of awater-reservoir, a gas-chamher and a stand-pipe in said reservoir, saidstand-pipe having a gas-outlet, a tube connecting said chamber with thestand-pipe, and a governor in the stand-pipe between the gas inlet andoutlet.

19. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, of awater-reservoir, a gas-chamstand-pipe having a gas-outlet, a tubeconnecting said chamber with the stand-pipe, and a governor in thestand-pipe between the gas inlet and outlet, such governor comprisingtwo perforated diaphragms with a filling between which will permit gasto pass through.

20. The combination, in an acetylene-gas apparatus, of a suitablecasing, a water-reservoir and gas-chamber therein, a fillingopeningleading to the water-reservoir, a plug, for the filling-opening in thewater-reservoir, having a vent-passage in the top thereof and providedwith a bottom chamber having a vent-hole therein in line with suchpassage, and a vent-pipe in said passage opening through the top of theplug and having its lower terminal turned to one side and arranged outof line with said vent-hole.

name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK M. MOORE.

Witnesses:

F. A. CUTTER, l O. E. MOORE. 1

ber and a stand-pipe in said reservoir, said In testimony whereof I havesigned my k

